June 12, 2014- Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day “Community Garden, Heirloom Seeds”

It was a smelly, hazy morning today in the Kootenay Boundary. We finally have been on the receiving end of some rain. Great for our local gardeners and for lil' ole me because I had been putting off washing my car. Thunderstorms knocked out my Internet for a while tonight so I am just getting today’s post up right now.

I am going to keep it short and sweet for today’s Castlegar Sculpture Walk work of the day. I tried to pick something colourful and inspiring on my morning walk about town, determined to not let the smelly day get me down. I think I managed to find a little vibrancy in the grey day from the work Kootenay Gallery has sponsored called “Community Garden, Heirloom Seeds”.

Gardening is a pastime I worry about. I hope kids today pick up gardening because we really need the beauty flowers and plants add to our communities and homes. I am horrible with plants. I have three in my apartment because I know they are mentally stimulating and they make me happy; I don’t think they are huge fans of their new adopted home living with me. Though I think they are slowly recovering from their first life on the shelves of Walmart, I certainly do not have a green thumb.

I love this sculpture because it reminds me of my mother. She had an old decoration at her business that was a bouquet of wooden block flowers that I repainted over and over again as a kid. It looked so tacky, I hope she threw it out; I have not seen it in years.

“Community Garden, Heirloom Seeds” is absolutely beautiful; unlike my tacky wooden block flowers. The colors are truly beautiful on this metal work sculpture, it was so hard to photograph this sculpture in all of its glory because the colours are much more vivid in real life and it was really hard to capture the wheelbarrow. The wheelbarrow holding these magnificent metal flowers is absolutely overflowing with the blooming beauties.

I hope you are inspired to get out to the garden and grow something special of your own!

I am very happy that “Community Garden, Heirloom Seeds” is from another BC artist, Cajsa Fredin from Invermere! For more on Fredin and  “Community Garden, Heirloom Seeds” click here. 

To check out my previous Sculpture Walk blog on “Seventy-Six Trombones” click here.

February 14, 2014 -- Happy National Donor, Ferris Wheel, National Cream-Filled Chocolates and (of course) Valentine's Day!

Like I said during my show, February 14th is not just Valentine's Day it is also National Donor Day, National Ferris Wheel Day and National Cream-Filled Chocolates Day. Something in that very short list of things is bound to make you happy so celebrate! :)

With that being said, I am a fan of Valentine’s on a purely commercial level.

Yes, I like presents. I like flowers. But, I love food. Especially when it is still expectable to be mid-winter bulking for warmth.  I do totally believe that people should celebrate their love everyday, but I am more on board with giving and getting gifts whenever possible.  Yes, I am a sucker for pink and red around this time of year (I'm normally more of a blue, green, yellow type of girl).

Now, this was my first Valentine’s Day on-air (outside of school), so I wasn't sure what kind of reaction my show would garner. I was worried about being too heaving on the V-Day talk and one break I had written had be really worried. I had changed it a few times to try not to exhibit a bias stance, that women are the only ones who should be getting gifts on February 14^th. This is not the case, this year my boyfriend were a on a budget for the big day and saving up for our vacation next week. We made an agreement, nothing elaborate in the gift department and we could get whatever we wanted from the grocery store and have it for supper.

On top of our massive meal, fondue came into the equation. Cheese fondue.  I agreed to provide him with a copy of the long-awaited South Park: Stick of Truth video game as his gift and he agree to order the parts for my broken iPhone and repair it. A pretty good trade, am I right?

Observations from February, 14 2014:

-Who knew cheese fondue spells like cheese? I sure didn’t. Not the most romantic smell at our plastic card table.

My beautiful flowers even have a tiny teddy! (Arrested
Development joke)

-Truly feel your Valentine’s Day flowers are safe on your drive home you need another person to hold them and hate you. I realized this as I packed my car for the journey home, I felt like I was driving with a newborn baby in the car.

-When you're sitting at your desk later than expected on Valentine’s Day you really start to wish your boo would have sent something like a heart shaped pizza or pretzel… or maybe even a cookie. Being fueled by boxed chocolates does not a headache-free V-Day make.

-Netflix knocked it out of the park with the release of Season 2 of House of Cards on the ‘day of the heart’ and they made it all worth it in the season opener. Well played Netflix, you will forever be a part of myValentine’s Day history. And, I am so okay with it.

-My parents are super awesome for giving their lovely children gifts for Valentine’s Day. I have learned that not many parents do this. I think my parent’s may have just given us gifts for putting up with their anniversary shenanigans (and annual mid-February anniversary party), our stuff always ended up being used during their parties. What was worse about it was being forced to watch the parties (they recorded them on video) and seeing things like your uncle wearing your princess bicycle helmet and slurring his words. I could write a whole blog on that on its own so we can leave to your imagination, its WAY funnier than you can imagine. Yes, the slate was always wiped clean with lovely gifts.

-People love talking about Valentine’s Day, I received more calls than ever during a show and social media totally was overwhelmed by V-Day talk. Love it or hate it, it seems to me like people love to vent their excitement or hostility for Valentine’s Day.

I don't think there is anything wrong for liking getting presents; I fully appreciate the commercialization of Valentine’s Day. To me though the best part of the day is the food. We have always had legendary Valentine’s Day suppers and this year was no exception!  (we left our phones off all night so I didn't take food pics)

-      - A cheese fondue platter to get it all rolling.

-       -Olive oil roasted cauliflower.

-     -  Garlic butter and pepper pan-fried steak ( we do not have a bbq)

It was awesome. We skipped on dessert for vacation’s sake.

I hope you had a just as happy Valentine’s Day (and got lots of presents)!

A Beautiful Surprise from Jayz Wayz Floral Art

A HUGE “THANK YOU” to Jayz Wayz Floral Art in Grand Forks for sending me beautiful flowers yesterday! I absolutely love them! MountainFM/1035 the Bridge Account Executive relayed a request from Jennifer at Jayz Wayz to me yesterday (Led Zeppelin’s ‘Misty Mountain Hop’) and in turn Jennifer sent me this BEAUTIFUL piece! I absolutely love it! There is nothing better than a nice surprise on a dreary Thursday.

Jayz Wayz just opened on Market Ave. in Grand Forks on January 6^th! Jennifer has an awesome story and a huge talent for taking flowers and making them into art. She is also very clever, Jayz Wayz is open Monday to Saturday and they are open late on Friday and Saturday so next time you need emergency flowers for any occasion you know where to go!

Thanks again!

You can find out more about Jayz Wayz Floral Art by ‘liking’ her on Facebook (click here)! 

You can find out more about Jayz Wayz Floral Art by ‘liking’her on Facebook (click here)!